Say NO to orca circuses

In 2013, Responsible travel launched a campaign and a petition to say 'no' to orca circuses - keeping orcas in captivity, and forcing them to perform for our entertainment. Our petition gained over 15,000 signatures and, best of all, in 2016, SeaWorld announced it would end its orca breeding programme. Read more about our orca campaign and the results, below.

18 Mar 2016 UPDATE: SeaWorld has finally announced it will end its orca breeding programme and circus-style orca performances. Thank you so much to the 15,053 people who signed our petition for being part of one of the biggest wins for animal welfare in decades.

We need your help in demonstrating to the travel and tourism industry that there is a real and growing movement of travellers and responsible travel companies, who want to see an end to this practice. Instead, we favour responsible whale and dolphin watching in the wild.

Help spread the word, any way you can, by sharing it on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest or via emails with your friends.

Our petition

You said no to Orca Circuses

Over 15,000 signatures received!

THANK YOU so much for being part of one of the biggest wins for animal welfare in decades. On 17 March 2016 SeaWorld finally announced it will end its orca breeding programme and circus-style orca performances. After an ongoing global campaign by animal rights activists and the public at large, including our joint petition, future generations of killer whales will be safe from the hands of this entertainment giant.

This is a momentous day - a critical turning point - and we applaud SeaWorld for doing the right thing. Finally it has listened to the experts and its customers and acted accordingly. In fact, in just one day it has gone from public enemy number one to a potential leader for change. We hope to see the dolphinarium industry around the world follow suit.

Standing up and talking out on animal welfare in tourism is important to Responsible Travel and the World Cetacean Alliance. We believe that all of us as travellers can make a huge difference, as this week has shown. Tourism companies around the world have a responsibility to animals, local people and the planet to protect and respect.

Dylan Walker, World Cetacean Alliance said:

"This is a momentous day and a critical turning point. We applaud SeaWorld for doing the right thing here. Finally SeaWorld has listened to the experts and its customers and acted accordingly. In just one day it has gone from public enemy number one to a potential leader for change. That's a game changer not just for SeaWorld but for the industry worldwide. We hope to see the dolphinarium industry around the world follow suit."

Justin Francis, CEO, Responsible Travel said:

"This is people power at its very best Ė customers standing up and talking out on animal welfare issues in tourism. All of us as travellers can make a huge difference, as this landmark change has shown. Tourism companies around the world have a responsibility to animals, local people and the planet to protect and respect."

Although a huge step forward, this isnít the end of the story - there are still issues around cetaceans kept in captivity at SeaWorld and around the world, and we will continue to remain vigilant.

Our petition is now closed; thank you for your support.

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We've had a massive response to this campaign - see who has given their support, from travel companies to conservation organisations and NGOs, as well as thousands of individuals, from all around the world, including Senegal, Jamaica, Guatemala, Pakistan, Indonesia, Brasil, Singapore, Dubai, Australia, as well as plenty of support from the UK, US, Canada, across Europe and beyond, who've said NO to orca circuses.